Richmond Revisited: News and Notes

The Flames were unable to overcome two second half turnovers and less than ideal playing conditions during a 30-21 setback to No. 23/20 Richmond at Robins Stadium.

Included with today's news and notes are radio highlights from the contest courtesy of the Liberty Flames Sports Network's radio crew, plus Coach Turner Gill's postgame interview with LFSN radio sideline reporter Nick Pierce.

Throughout the season, LibertyFlames.com will run a similar feature online each Sunday, spotlighting the notable accomplishments and numbers from the previous day's gridiron battle.

Series with Richmond: • The contest marked the first meeting in the series between the two programs • Richmond is the second of four first-time opponents on Liberty's 2013 schedule • Liberty defeated Monmouth, 45-15, on Sept. 7 in its first-ever meeting with the Hawks to open the Flames' 2013 home schedule • Later this year, Liberty will also have first-time matchups against Old Dominion (Oct. 5) and Brevard (Nov. 16)

Versus Ranked Opponents: • Liberty is 12-47 all-time against nationally ranked teams • Liberty snapped a seven-game losing streak against nationally ranked teams, defeating No. 6/8 Stony Brook, 28-14, last year at home on Nov. 10 • The Stony Brook win marked the first time Liberty had defeated a nationally ranked team under head coach Turner Gill and the program's first-ever victory over a Top 10 team • Liberty is 1-4 all-time in games against ranked opponents under head coach Turner Gill • The game against Richmond marked the fourth nationally ranked team Liberty has faced under head coach Turner Gill in nine non-conference games (last year, Liberty faced No. 24 Norfolk State, No. 14/12 Montana and No. 16/13 Lehigh)

Team Notes from Richmond Contest: • Liberty allowed Richmond to score 30 points, the most points an opponent has scored against the Flames since allowing 36 points to Coastal Carolina in a 36-12 road loss on Oct. 27, 2012. • Coming into the game, the Flames had held each of its last six opponents to less than 20 points and an average of 13.67 points per game. • During the first three games of the 2013 season, Liberty surrendered a total of 42 total points. • The Flames have allowed five opponents in 15 games under head coach Turner Gill to score 30 or more points in a game, with three of the five being nationally ranked opponents (No. 24 Norfolk State – L/ 24-31; No. 12 Montana – L/ 14-34; No. 23/20 Richmond – L/ 21-30) • The two teams finished the game with a combined 814 total offensive yards (Liberty – 386; Richmond – 428) • The two teams came into the game allowing a combined average of 575.7 total offensive yards per game (Liberty – 270.7; Richmond 305.0) • Liberty finished the game with 21 first downs and has recorded 20 or more first downs in its last three games (opened the year with 11 first downs against Kent State) • The Flames had their third-straight multiple rushing touchdown game of the season, finishing the Richmond contest with two rushing touchdowns • Ten of Liberty's 14 offensive touchdowns scored in 2013 have been rushing touchdowns • Liberty averaged 5.2 yards per carry against Richmond, its second-highest team rushing average of 2013 • During the first two games of the year, Liberty averaged 2.35 yard per rushing attempt (66 carries for 155 yards) • During the last two games of this season, Liberty has averaged 6.98 yards per rushing attempt (68 carries for 475 yards) • Liberty finished the Richmond game with 28 rushing plays and 42 passing plays • In 15 games under head coach Turner Gill, Liberty is averaging 56.7 percent rushing plays (577/1,017) to 43.3 percent passing plays (440/1,017) • Liberty has averaged more rushing plays than passing plays in each of the eight games the Flames have won under head coach Turner Gill • In Liberty's eight victories under head coach Turner Gill, Liberty has averaged 64.2 percent rushing plays in a game (346 rushing plays to 539 total offensive plays) • In the Flames' seven losses under head coach Turner Gill, Liberty has averaged 43.3 percent rushing plays per game (231 rushing plays to 478 total offensive plays) • The Flames finished the Richmond game with 241 passing yards, the team's second-high passing total of the season • The Flames have finished seven contests in 15 games under head coach Turner Gill with 200 or more passing yards • The Flames were penalized six times for 60 yards against Richmond, Liberty's highest penalty total of the 2013 season • Following the game, Liberty currently ranks No. 22 in the country in fewest penalties per game (4.75) and No. 33 in fewest penalty yards (44.25 per game) • The Flames lost the time of possession battle for the second time this season, as Richmond edged the Flames (31:56 to 28:06) • The Flames currently ranks No. 75 in the country (out of 122 FCS teams) in average time of possession (28:59) • Liberty finished the game 4-of-14 on third-down conversion attempts (28.57 percent) • On the season, Liberty has converted on 13-of-43 third-down plays (30.23 percent), which ranks No. 104 in the country (out of 122 FCS teams) in the statistical category • For the third-straight game, the Flames were able to convert on a fourth down play • The Flames have converted on half of their fourth-down plays in 2013 (three out of six) • The Flames lost the turnover battle for the first time this season, as Liberty committed two turnovers without forcing Richmond to give the ball away • Following the game, Liberty has forced five turnovers and lost five turnovers (0.00) and currently ranks No. 47 in the country in turnover margin • The Flames allowed Richmond to penetrate the line of scrimmage once to record the fifth opponent sack of the season • Liberty currently ranks No. 38 in the country in fewest sacks allowed (1.25 per game) • Liberty scored both times it entered the red zone against Richmond with the pair of scores being touchdowns • Liberty currently ranks No. 18 in the country in red zone offense, having scored on 13-of-14 drives that cross the opponent 20-yard line (92.9 percent) • Nine of Liberty's 13 red zone scoring drives have ended in rushing touchdowns • The Flames allowed Richmond to finish the game with 428 total offensive yards, marking a new opponent season high • In 15 games under head coach Turner Gill, Liberty has allowed only one other opponent to amass 400-plus yards of total offense (Gardner-Webb – 481 yards on Oct. 6, 2012) • Richmond evenly spread its total offensive yards (218 rushing/210 passing) and its total offensive plays (40 rushing/34 passing) • Eleven of Richmond's 21 first downs came via rushing plays • The Spiders became just the fourth opponent in 15 games under head coach Turner Gill to finish a game with 10 or more rushing first downs • Richmond finished the game with 218 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, both new opponent season highs • During the first three games of 2013, Liberty had allowed opponents to an average of 132.33 rushing yards per game and just one rushing touchdown • The last time the Flames allowed an opponent to rush for 200-plus yards in a game was Coastal Carolina, who finished its 36-12 win over Liberty with 226 rushing yards on Oct. 27, 2012 • Richmond finished with an opponent season-high 10 penalties for 105 penalty yards • On the year, Liberty's opponents are averaging 7.5 penalties per game and 75.25 penalty yards per game • Liberty stopped Richmond twice on fourth down plays • Liberty currently ranks No. 10 in the country in fourth-down conversion defense, having allowed just one opponent to convert on six attempted fourth-down plays • Richmond scored on all four of its drives the penetrated the Flames' 20-yard line (all four resulted in touchdowns) • On the year, Liberty ranks No. 92 in the country in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on eight of nine drives that end Liberty's 20-yard line • The Flames nearly doubled their total special teams return yards on the year during the Richmond, finished with 159 total return yards (41 punt; 118 kickoff) • Liberty came into the game having finished the first three games of the year with 196 total return yards • For the third-straight game, Liberty finished a contest averaging 40-plus yards per punt (averaged 40.2 yards per punt against Richmond) • The Flames finished the Richmond game with 41 total punt return yards, marking the third-highest total punt return yards in 15 games under head coach Turner Gill • Liberty finished the Richmond game with 118 total kickoff returns yards, marking the second-highest total kickoff return yards in 15 games under head coach Turner Gill • The Flames had both of their field goal attempts blocked by Richmond, marking the second and third blocked field goals against the Flames in 15 games under head coach Turner Gill

Player Points from Richmond Game: • Desmond Rice recorded his first career 100-yard game, carrying the ball 12 times for 106 yards • Desmond Rice became the 32nd running back in program history to record a 100-yard game • Desmond Rice finished game with a 46 yard run, the longest rushing play of his Liberty career • Desmond Rice finished the Richmond game rushing for 8.8 yards per carry, marking the second-straight week and the second time in his career he has averaged more than 8.0 yards per carry (min. five carries per game) • Desmond Rice has recorded a rushing touchdown in three-straight games • Josh Woodrum recorded his second career rushing touchdown, scoring from nine yards out midway through the second quarter • Josh Woodrum finished the game with 28 yards rushing, marking the third time in his career he has finished a game with 20 or more rushing yards • For the first time this season, Clifton Richardson finished a game without double digit carries, as he rushed nine times for 22 yards • Josh Woodrum finished the game completing 23-of-42 passing attempts for 241 yards • For the second time this season and the sixth time of his career, Josh Woodrum finished a game with 200 or more passing yards (241 yards) • For the first time this year and the fifth time of his career, Josh Woodrum finished a game with 20 or more completions (23) • Four of Josh Woodrum's completions were for 20 or more yards • Gabe Henderson led all receivers in the game, posting a career-best seven receptions for 66 yards • Dante Shells finished the game with a season-high six receptions for 68 yards • Dante Shells entered the Richmond game with seven receptions for 111 yards during the first three games of the year • Brandon Apon caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Josh Woodrum during the first quarter • Brandon Apon's 20-yard touchdown reception against Richmond was his fifth career touchdown reception (Liberty's active career leader in touchdown receptions) • For the third-straight game and ninth time in his career, Grant Bowden averaged 40-plus yards per punt, finishing the Richmond game with six punts for 241 yards (40.2 average) • One of Grant Bowden's six punts went for 55 yards, his second 50-plus yard punt of the year and eighth of his Liberty career • Grant Bowden finished the game with 241 punting yards, marking the third time this year and ninth time in his career he has finished a game with 200-plus punting yards • Kevin Fogg finished the game with seven total special teams returns, including three punt returns for 41 yards and four kickoff returns for 90 yards • John Lunsford had four kickoffs during the game with two of the four resulting in a touchback • Jacob Hagen led the Flames in tackles, finishing the game with 11 tackles (five solo, six assisted) • Jacob Hagen has finished three out of four games in 2013 as Liberty's leading tackler • Jacob Hagen's 11 tackles marked a new single-game career high, besting his nine tackle effort against Charleston Southern on Nov. 3, 2012 • Walt Aikens finished the Richmond game with 10 stops, including seven solo tackles • Walt Aikens' 10-tackle game against Richmond marked his first career double-digit tackle game • Scott Hyland finished the game with nine tackles, including seven assisted stops • The nine-stop effort by Scott Hyland tied his career high, matching his nine tackle game against Montana on Sept. 15, 2012 • Two of Nick Sigmon's six tackles were tackles for a loss, giving him a team-leading 23 career tackles for a loss • Gary Sampson doubled his career tackle total against Richmond, finishing the game with six tackles (two solo, four assisted) • Gary Sampson had recorded three tackles during the first three games of the year • Kevin Fogg finished the game with five tackles (two solo, three assisted), marking his highest single-game tackle effort since recording six tackles against Montana on Sept. 15, 2012 • Chima Uzowihe finished the game with five stops, including his third career sack • Dylan Lewellyn recorded two solo tackles, including his first career sack, which resulted in a 10-yard losses on the play